"I understand the consequences of votes," Ritchie said. "They (the administration) had to send a message, I guess. If you are going to be in leadership, evidently you have to be there 100 percent of the time.

"They were just sending a message to all who are fixing to vote (on administration bills). That is just fear and intimidation" tactics.

Ritchie was one of four votes against House Bill 969 by Rep. Kirk Talbot, R-Harahan, that gives a dollar-for-dollar tax rebate to those who donate money to non-profit groups that provide grants or scholarships to private schools. The bill passed 15-4.

Ritchie said House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, selected with the backing of Jindal, met with him Wednesday afternoon while the House Education Committee debated other elements of Jindal's education package.

Ritchie said Kleckley told him that he was disappointed with the vote against the Jindal-backed tax rebate. "I told him if he needed to replace me he could, and I offered to resign," Ritchie said.

Ritchie said he was told he will keep his seat on the insurance panel but the new vice chair will be Rep. Ledricka Thierry, D-Opelousas.

Jindal has invested a lot of political capital in his education program, making it his signature issue of the 2012 session. Jindal also played a large role in selecting House and Senate leaders and committee chairmen and vice chairmen to help ease the passage of his measures.

Ritchie said he voted against the tax break because it was too broad. "I asked a few questions about the accountability provisions in it," he said. "I just couldn't vote for it. ... I've got to vote my conscience. I have to vote (with the needs of) my district back home."

Ritchie said that Kleckley "is here to help their (the administration's) agenda; he needed to do this to help them."

Kleckley said he and Ritchie are good friends. He called Ritchie a "very good legislator," but he refused to discuss his conversation with Ritchie or say whether Jindal or his top staff told him to take the action.

"I'm not going to make comments on that personal issue," Kleckley said. "It is a discussion Rep. Ritchie and I had between ourselves."

Jindal Chief of Staff Stephen Waguespack said only that the "speaker informed us of his decision" to replace Ritchie. He refused to answer questions on whether Jindal or his top aides asked Kleckley to boot Ritchie as committee vice chairman.

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who has backed some elements of Jindal's education efforts but has often been critical of him, issued a statement criticizing Kleckley's move. "I have been part of the legislative process for 35 years, and I understand the discipline sometimes required of legislative leaders," she said. "This type of intimidation should not be part of this important and extraordinary debate."